Debunking Cheerleader Stereotypes That The Media Has Created
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Selected Cast for College Holiday (Photo by John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
November 27, 2019
- Cheerleaders wear their uniforms all day, everyday: This stereotype is the most impractical that there is. A cheerleader wearing their uniform all the time is like a football player wearing all of their equipment all of the time. Not only would this be unrealistic, but also very uncomfortable.
- All cheerleaders are materialistic and rude: We can thank television for this stereotype. Coming from someone who has done both high school and all-star cheerleading for almost 5 years, I can assure you that I have met some of the kindest and most down to earth people in the world through cheerleading. The sport or activity you do has nothing to do with how you act.
- Cheerleading is easy: Believe it or not, you have to work extremely hard to become a great cheerleader. I for one, practice 16 hours a week, working my hardest to be the best I can be. Some cheerleaders practice for longer than that. I really don’t think that sounds easy.
- Every cheerleader NEEDS to fit a specific mold: Unfortunately, this is one of the most dangerous and untrue stereotype there is. In reality, cheerleaders come in all different shapes and sizes and that’s totally okay. In fact, it is actually great to have diversity in cheerleading because it showcases the different talents of every person.
- Cheerleaders are ditsy/get bad grades: Last but not least, we have the biggest and most bogus stereotype surrounding cheerleaders that there is! What people don’t realize is in most cases, in order to do both a high school athletic or a travel athletic, it is mandatory that you uphold at least a B average in all of your classes.
